Improvement in devices for marking and ringing swine



A. G DECKER. Devines fa r Marking and Ringing Swine.

Ndsi54ii460. Pate ntedAug.25,i87 4 W finesses: g 17171672307;

THE GRAPHIC C0. PHbTU' I-ITHJSS' 4 PARK PLAOE,N.Y,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER G. DECKER, OF BUSHNELL, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN DEVICES FOR MARKING AND RINGING SWINE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 154,460, dated August 25, 1874; application filed 7 February 19, 1874.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALEXANDER G. DECKER, of Bushnell, in the county of McDonough and State of Illinois, have invented certain Improvements in Device for Ringing and Marking Swine, of which the following is a specification:

My invention consists in a device to be used for the twofold purpose of ringing swine to prevent them from rooting, and at the same time having a mark by which to designate the ownership of the animals, as hereinafter explained. Figure 1 represents the blank, as cut from a strip or sheet, with a letter thereon. Fig. 2 shows it bent ready for insertion; and Fig. 3 shows it closed, as it is after being inserted.

It has long been customary to insert rings in the nose of swine to prevent them from rooting, and of late years these rings are usually formed of strips of metal cut from wire rolled flat, or from sheets of metal of the proper thickness. It is also customary, especially in certain districts of the country, for large numbers of swine belonging to different owners to run together in herds. It is also customary for them to be driven or shipped to market in herds, embracing animals belonging to different owners; and, as is well known, it is difficult to distinguish swine so as readily to designate those belonging to the several owners, 1

To remedy this, and provide a means of both ringing and marking the animals at one operation, is the object of my invention; and to accomplish this I provide a ring, which is formed preferably of wire, first flattened by passing it between rolls, and then cutting it into strips, with pointed ends, as represented in Fig. 1, after which there is impressed or stamped in it one or more letters, figures, or other characters to designate the owner. After this has been done the strips are then passed between rolls, one of which is concave and the other convex ontheir periphery, so as to make the strip concavo-convex in cross-section, as represented in Figs. 2 and 3, care being taken to so bend them that the letter or character shall be on the concave face.

It is obvious that, if preferred, the wire may be first curved before it is cut into pieces to It is then inserted in the usual manner, and

by means of suitable pliers, or other tool well known to the public, its ends are brought together, as shown in Fig. 3, by which means it is secured in place.

It is obvious that this device may also be used for marking cattle, sheep, and other stock by inserting the ring in the ear, and that, when so used, they may be made of lighter or thinner metal. In such case I prefer to make it wider, so as to afford space for a larger letter, that it may be more readily distinguished.

By my improved device, it will be seen that the swine can be so marked as to designate their ownership without any increase of labor or expense, and that thus any number may be allowed to run together, or be sent to market together, and each owner have a positive means of distinguishing his own.

I am aware that it has been proposed to make tags or labels for marking sheep, fruittrees, &c., of thin sheet metal, and having stamped or marked thereon letters or characters, and therefore I do not claim such; but,

Having described my invention, what 1 do claim is 1. A ring for hogs noses, composed of a strip of metal concavo-convex in cross-section,

and having one or both ends pointed so it can 1 be inserted without first punching a hole for it, substantially as shown and described.

2. The ring, composed of a piece of metal, made concave in cross-section, with the letter or character stamped on its concave surface to protectit from obliteration by wear, as herein set forth.

ALEXANDER O. DECKER.

Witnesses:

J. O. WALTERS, J. W. MGELVAIN. 

